Unruly students drive teachers away, says TUI
Speaking in Ennis, Co Clare, Tony Deffley of Co Mayo told delegates some children are making lives difficult for teachers.
Mr Deffley claimed there seemed to be an attitude in the Department of Education under the legislation to “shove them into the school, lock the doors, keep them in there and the teachers will sort them out.”
He said the Department of Education was equally responsible for the welfare of both students and teachers.
“It is time we organised our procedures and work on the legislation in this matter,” he said.
Mr Tommy Glynn a member of the TUI Executive Committee said that they are dealing with “a cry from the heart” among teachers because of discipline problems in schools.
He said that disciplinary problems were not being dealt with because of the failure of school authorities to implement proper and reasonable disciplinary procedures.
“This is making the life of many of our teachers a hell,” he said.
The delegates unanimously passed a motion directing the executive to implement procedures for the defence and support of teachers who are subjected to physical and emotional abuse by unruly students.
The motion also called on the union to pursue the repeal or alteration of recent legislation which prevents long term suspensions of students.
The delegates also passed an emergency motion condemning the decision of the government to cut expenditure in the institutes of technology which are major contributors to industry.
Mr Eddie Condon, a member of the executive committee, said the cut backs have been made despite unavoidable increases in expenditure for the Institutes.
Mr Condon said that while institutes got 1% in their budget, inflation was running at 5%.
The congress directed the committee to ballot for national industry action to include a one day strike initially to protect the jobs and conditions of service of members.
The congress also urged the executive committee to establish the extent of the cuts in each Institute and their effects.
Meanwhile, teachers in post Leaving Certificate (PLC) colleges may be forced to take industrial action unless the government provides proper funding for the further education sector.
“We are the Cinderella of the Irish educational system. We are providing a second chance for everybody but we have not the proper resources,” said Mary Humphries, a member of the TUI Executive.
The delegates called on the Minister for Education Noel Dempsey to implement the report for the improvement of the PLC colleges.
“We are third level in reality, but second hand level on paper,” said Walter Fleming a member of the TUI Executive Committee.
Mr Fleming who teaches at the Cork College of Commerce spoke of the serious lack of facilities and resources for teachers and pupils which now number about 3,000.
“We are stretched to the limit and we are operating on a shoestring budget,” he said.
